Metro Manila crime rate down 60%, police say

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - The rate of index crimes in Metro Manila fell 60% last month compared to January 2012, police claimed on Wednesday.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Supt. Generoso Cerbo said serious crimes such as murder, homicide, armed robbery, rape, and car theft reported to Metro Manila police only reached 1,218 last month, compared to 3,021 in the same month last year.

"Bumaba ito ng 59.68%," he said.

He allayed fears of a crime wave in the metropolis following recent armed robbery incidents that made the headlines.

He did not mention specific figures on what police call as non-index crimes such as illegal possession of firearms as well other criminal offenses such as kidnapping, estafa, illegal possession of firearms, smuggling, and use of illegal drugs.